Just Extra

Naviga remained in her room, her focus unwavering as she prepared herself for the task ahead. She sat cross-legged on the floor, her posture perfectly aligned, and began circulating the *Lunar Serenity Breathing Art*. The essence seeped into her through her pores and nose, carried by the cool night air. As she inhaled deeply, the energy flowed steadily toward her chest center, where her core resided. Her core, a reservoir of power within her, eagerly pulled the Universal Essence into its space, absorbing it like a sponge.

For fifteen minutes, she continued this process, ensuring that her core was stable and ready to handle the next step. Once satisfied, she stopped the circulation and retrieved the Molten Cobra's core from her storage ring. The core glowed faintly, its fiery red hue pulsating with latent energy. It was a Fire-element core, brimming with raw power. Naviga studied it for a moment before stepping out of her room and settling into the garden.

The garden was bathed in the soft glow of the crescent moon, its silver-white light unusually bright despite its partial phase. A gentle, cool breeze drifted through the air, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers. Naviga's white hair danced lightly in the night wind, framing her serene face. She looked ethereal, almost otherworldly, like a goddess descended from the moon itself.

She placed a cushion on the ground and sat down gracefully, positioning the Molten Cobra's core in front of her. Closing her eyes, she once again activated the *Lunar Serenity Breathing Art*. This time, however, her focus shifted. While the Moon element infused her body, soothing her essence veins and calming her mind, her attention remained fixed on the fiery red core before her. Slowly, she reached out with her Universal Essence, probing the core until it cracked open. From within, a violent surge of energy erupted, flooding into her body.

The sensation was immediate and overwhelming. The Universal Essence from the core burned fiercely, its Fire element rebelling against her Yin-aligned nature. Her skin felt as though it were ablaze, the heat searing through her very being. Gritting her teeth, Naviga intensified her cultivation, drawing upon the Moon and Yin elements to counteract the fiery intrusion. She wove these cooling energies around her essence veins, subduing the rebellious flames and stabilizing her body. After two minutes of relentless effort, the burning sensation began to subside, though her body still radiated heat.

With great care, she guided the Universal Essence from the core deeper into her own system, channeling it toward her core. The process was painstaking—each movement deliberate, each decision calculated. The fiery energy resisted her attempts to control it, but she persisted, using her mastery of Moon and Yin elements to temper its volatility. Slowly, she directed the energy to the boundaries of her core, expanding it incrementally. After what felt like an eternity, her core had grown by six meters, its capacity vastly increased.

Once the expansion was complete, Naviga used the remaining Universal Essence to reinforce her core further. As she worked, because of sweat her body exuded a subtle yet intoxicating fragrance—the *Lunar Veil Aroma*, a natural byproduct of her cultivation and body. The scent drifted lazily through the air, soft and alluring. To those with weaker wills or simpler minds, the aroma could be dangerously enticing, stirring primal desires. Minasa, ever watchful from the shadows, ensured that the scent did not escape beyond the confines of the garden. Though powerful individuals like herself were unaffected, even they could succumb if their guard slipped. And so, she kept a careful eye on her sister, shielding her from unintended consequences.

Within Naviga's core, the Universal Essence began to boil, its fog-like form gradually transforming into a liquid state. The change was profound—the once-mistlike essence thickened, becoming denser and more potent. Fog turned to liquid, and the liquid grew clearer, sharper, imbued with immense power. Finally, a faint *click* resonated within her core, followed by another, signaling a breakthrough. For a brief moment, her core seemed to shatter, only to reform stronger than before. When the transformation completed, her core had expanded far beyond its previous size, now surpassing five meters in diameter.

Naviga spent another hour stabilizing her newly upgraded core, ensuring that every aspect of her cultivation was balanced and secure. By the time she finished, her core was fully settled, its newfound strength undeniable. She had successfully broken through to the 1st Core Essence Realm, officially becoming a Magus—a milestone that marked her entry into a higher echelon of cultivators.

With a deep breath, she opened her eyes, a smile spreading across her face. Stretching her arms above her head, she rose to her feet, feeling lighter, stronger, and more powerful than ever before. The night air embraced her, cool and refreshing, as she stood beneath the crescent moon, basking in the quiet triumph of her achievement.

The soft hum of her chip activating echoed in the quiet night as Naviga reviewed her updated status. The data blinked into view, crisp and precise, painting a clear picture of her newfound strength.

---

**Status Update:**

**Name:** Naviga Akerman

**Core:** 1st Essence Core

**Age:** 15 [Biological Age: 22]

**Physical Strength (Phy):** 13 [Normal Adult: 2]

**Universal Essence (U.E):** 23

**Agility (Agi):** 12 [Adult: 2]

**Defense (Def):** 15 [Adult: 2]

**Charm:** 20 [Adult: 3]

**Luck:** 9 [Adult: 1]

**Elements:** Yin Element, Moon Element

**Arts:**

- **Lunar Serenity Breathing:** [Foundation]

- **Lunar Edge Sword Arts:** [Transcendence]

- **Eclipse Slash Sword Art:** [Mastery]

- **Phantom Moon Step Footwork Art:** [Transcendence]

- **Moonlit Shield Defensive Art:** [Mastery]

---

Naviga studied the numbers carefully, her silver eyes tracing each line with satisfaction. Her core, once simply a reservoir of potential, now bore the title *1st Essence Core*. This marked her official entry into the ranks of Magi, a significant milestone in her cultivation journey. She noted that her Universal Essence had increased dramatically—from 15% to 23%. For most cultivators, breaking through to the 1st Essence Core Realm required at least 20% of their core to be filled with Universal Essence. Yet, she had surpassed that threshold, her core now containing not just fog-like essence but a denser, liquid form of energy. The transformation made her power more stable and potent, a testament to her hard work and determination.

Her charm stat had also seen a notable improvement, rising from 18.5 to 20. While this number might seem trivial to some, it was a reflection of her natural beauty and presence becoming even more striking. She could feel it in the way the moonlight seemed to embrace her, enhancing her ethereal aura. Lastly, her luck had edged upward from 8 to 9—a small change, but one that brought a faint smile to her lips. Luck, unpredictable and fickle, often played a crucial role in survival, and any increase was welcome.

Closing the interface of her chip, Naviga allowed herself a moment of quiet pride. Each number represented progress, growth earned through perseverance and sacrifice. She felt lighter, stronger, and more confident than ever before. Yet, she knew there was still much to achieve, many realms beyond this one to conquer.

With a contented sigh, she turned her attention to her physical state. Her body was slick with sweat, the remnants of her intense cultivation session clinging to her skin. Impurities expelled during the breakthrough process left her feeling sticky and unclean. Without hesitation, she made her way to her room, her steps steady and unhurried. The cool night air brushed against her as she crossed the threshold, heading straight for the bathroom.

The bath awaited her—a chance to cleanse herself of the grime and fatigue, to wash away the last traces of her previous self and emerge refreshed.

**********

After her practice, Minerva returned to her room and settled onto a cushion, her movements deliberate and calm. She reached into her storage ring and retrieved the Infernal Raven Core. Though it was not as powerful as the Molten Cobra's core, it still held significant energy—more than what she currently possessed. With a steady breath, she began cultivating the *Purple Sun Ray Breathing Art*, drawing Universal Essence from the core into her body.

As the essence flowed into her, Minerva felt no discomfort, unlike Naviga's fiery ordeal. Instead, she experienced a cool, tingling sensation, almost like an invigorating itch spreading through her veins. The energy was gentle yet potent, and she guided it with precision, weaving it into her own system. Simultaneously, she pulled additional Universal Essence from the surrounding air, combining it with the energy extracted from the core. This dual influx of essence strengthened her control, ensuring that every drop was utilized efficiently.

Within her core, the Universal Essence began to transform. What had once been a foggy mist gradually thickened, condensing into a liquid state. The process was slow but steady, each wisp of essence solidifying into a denser, more powerful form. As the last traces of fog turned to liquid, a faint *click* resonated within her core. Moments later, the core seemed to shatter, only to reform stronger and larger than before. When the transformation completed, her core had expanded to six meters in diameter, marking her breakthrough to the 1st Essence Core Realm.

Minerva spent another hour meditating, stabilizing her newly upgraded core and ensuring that all aspects of her cultivation were balanced. By the time she finished, she could feel the immense power now coursing through her. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she acknowledged her achievement. Rising gracefully to her feet, she made her way to the bathroom for another wash. Her body, though already cleansed earlier, still carried traces of sweat and impurities from her intense session.

Despite both she and Naviga having only just broken through to the 1st Essence Core Realm, their strength far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators at this stage. Naviga, with 23% of her core filled with Universal Essence Liquid, was already on par with middle 1st Essence Core Realm magic cultivators. Similarly, Minerva's breakthrough had elevated her to a level where she could confidently face opponents at the pinnacle of this realm. they both used arts they can fight with peak level 1st Essence Core. Their progress was extraordinary, a testament to their relentless determination and the resources they had acquired along the way.

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